Take a stroll through
Historic Uptown Susanville
The Wemple House, located at 100 N. Roop St., is a Victorian-style residence built in 1907 with a turret overlooking the corner lot and a wrap-around porch. Photo courtesy of the Lassen Historical Society
W
ithin a small area in Historic Uptown Susanville are many of the original buildings and homes. For a copy of a tour guide, visit the Lassen Historical Museum at 75 N. Weatherlow, (530) 257-3292 or the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce, 75 N. Weatherlow St., (530) 257-4323. Susanville is the second oldest town in the western Great Basin, and was established as a trading post in 1854. Lassen County was created in 1864 when Susanville won the special election for county seat by one vote. Since then, Susanville has been a major trading center, and still remains the major commerce center for the region. Here’s a start for a pleasant stroll around Historic Uptown Susanville: Roop’s Fort Beginning on Weatherlow, just one-half block off Main Street, is Roop’s Fort and the Lassen Historical Museum. Roop’s Fort was built as a trading post by the Roop brothers in 1854, and was the first building in Lassen County. Roop’s Fort was also the site of the Sagebrush War in 1863. St. Francis Hotel The St. Francis Hotel is the next stop, located on the corner of Main Street and Union. The St. Francis Hotel was built in 1914, and was the former site of the Magnolia Hotel, which in the mid-1800s housed various administrative functions of Lassen County until a courthouse was built. Pancera Plaza The Pancera Plaza is located up the block, on the corner of Main and Gay streets. Take a break and relax, enjoy the plaza developed by the Historic Uptown Susanville Association. Read the personalized bricks placed in the front planters and examine the mural of Dad Popcorn while resting on the benches.
T.H. Long Building Across Main Street, the T.H. Long building previously housed numerous livery stables from the earliest days of Susanville until this structure was built in 1914. The building is now the home of Sierra Jewelry. The Old Torrey Drug Building The old Torrey Drug Building is up the street (on Main Street) and was founded in 1921. It now houses Uptown Uniforms. It was the previous site of the Owl Saloon during the turn of the century, where one could find Shorty Douglas, a gentleman who provided local character, presiding at the bar. Pioneer Saloon Across Main Street, the Pioneer Saloon, at this location since 1862, is the oldest business in Northeastern California. Currently the home of Lassen Ale Works, it is the place where Plumas and Lassen County officials licked their wounds and made peace after the Sagebrush War. The Grand Cafe Right next door to the saloon is the Grand Cafe. The cafe was established in 1909 by Kwan Wong, a Chinese man, whose cafe specialized in American cuisine. The cafe originally was in the rear of the Pioneer, but later moved next door into the newly constructed “Wee Wee” building in 1912, where it remains today. In Oct. 1921, Sam Vucanovich and Steve Sargent took over the cafe. The Sargent family still owns the cafe today – more than 80 years later. The cafe is now closed and the building is currently slated for renovation. Williams Building Next you’ll come to the Williams building (established in 1907), formerly occupied by the Spalding Drug Company which operated from 1865-1967. Spalding Drug bottled its own patented medicines.
Lassen County Visitors Guide 2013-14
Oddfellows Building Again crossing Main Street, the Oddfellows Building was built in 1896 for $4,000 and became the town’s first two-story red brick building. The Silver Star Lodge of the I.O.O.F. is one of Susanville’s older fraternal organizations, having been established in 1879. Del Mar Building One block up Main Street, on the left, is the Del Mar Building, built in 1914 for O.M. Doyle, manager of the Pioneer Saloon, the last brick building built in Uptown Susanville. A mural on cattle ranching in Lassen County now graces the building’s west face. Elks Lodge The Elks Lodge crowns the top of Main Street. It was built in 1884 for Dr. J.G. Leonard’s dental practice and residence, and remained in private hands until 1922 when the B.P.O.E. organization acquired it for a lodge. Backing up one block to Roop Street, there are many well-maintained Victorian homes. Wemple House Located at 100 N. Roop St. is the Wemple House, which was built in 1907 for David Knoch and is typical of the homes of the period that remain intact. Maurino Home The Maurino Home, located at 130 N. Roop and built in 1909, has been beautifully restored by its present owners. Masonic Hall The Masonic Hall was built in 1926, and is located on the corner of Lassen and Nevada Streets, just one block off Main Street. This building is the last of the major native stone structures built in Susanville. It houses the oldest fraternal organization of Lassen County, the Lassen Lodge F. & A.M. No. 149, established in 1861. Catholic Church The Catholic Church is in an area originally part of Susanville’s Chinatown district of the 1860s. The parish was established in 1912. It is located on the corner of Union and Nevada streets, just up from Roop’s Fort. ❖
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